Escapement movement for pendulum clocks



March 1965 s. E. KOPLAR ETAL ESCAPEMENT MOVEMENT FOR PENDULUM CLOCKSFiled 'Feb 6, 1964 mm m M MM 1 2 United States Patent 3,171,244ESCAPEMENT MOVEMENT FOR PENDULUM CLOCKS Solomon Edward Koplar, 316 BarryAve.., Chicago, Ill., and Ignacio R. Quin-oz, 792 S. Illinois St., VillaPark, Ill. Filed Feb. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 343,076 8 Claims. (Cl. 58-23)This application is a continuation in part of our copending applicationSerial No. 297,546, dated July 25, 1963, and as such is directed to anew pendulum connecting means which is cooperatively associated with anescapement wheel which in turn is associated with a bat- V tery-typeelectrically operated clock mechanism as shown and described in ourPatent 3,113,639, dated December 10, 1963.

Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in an escapementmovement for pendulum clocks.

A principal object of this invention is to provide in an apparatus ofthis character a means for connecting a free swinging pendulum to anescapement movement of a clock.

Another object of our invention is to provide in an apparatus of thischaracter a gear driven escapement wheel and a pendulum comprising twoparts which are frictionally operatively connected together foreffecting proper oscillation of a pendulum associated therewith.

A further object of our invention is to provide, in an apparatus of thischaracter a means for connecting a pendulum, together with its palletpins, to an escapement wheel whereby proper oscillating movement of thependulum is achieved without requiring a perfect vertical positioning ofthe clock.

A still further important object of our invention is to provide in anapparatusof this character a pendulum connecting means which isself-adjusting with respect to the arc of its swinging movementregardless of the vertical placement of the clock. The self-adjustingfeature prevents damage to the pallet pins of the escapement movement byreason of the fact that as the pendulum adjusts itself to swingingthrough its prescribed arc it will cause the pallet pins to strike theteeth of the escapement wheel with an even and equal force. Thisarrangement produces an even stroke and beat of the pendulum and palletpins and produces a less erratic movement.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the clock mechanism together with thependulum as associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the train of clock gears andescapement wheel mechanism together with the pendulum connection asembodied in our improved clock;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pendulum mounting arm; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the parts comprising the pendulum mountingarm.

The battery powered spring winding pendulum clock includes a clockmechanism which is shown in part in FIG. 1. The clock mechanism includesa mounting plate which has mounted thereon an electric motor 11. Thiselectric motor 11, by wire conduits 12, is associated with a D typebattery (not shown) which. is the power source for the clock. Adapted tobe mounted in spaced relation with respect to the rear face of themounting plate 10 is a support plate 12. Between the support plate 123,171,244 Patented Mar. 2, 1965 ice and the mounting plate 10 isrotatably journaled a driven shaft 15 (see FIG. 2). Operativelyconnected to the driven shaft 15 is a chain of gears 16 one of which isoperatively connected to and periodically rotates an escapement wheel17. This escapement wheel 17 is adapted to be rotatably mounted on ashaft 18 which extends between two spaced apart walls 19 and 20 which isconnected by means of screws 21 to the mounting plate 10 as shown inFIG. 1.

The escapement wheel 17 is rotated through the chain of gears 16in amanner well known in the art. The rotation of such escapement wheel 17is controlled by an escapement mechanism which includes a pallet pinplate 22 which is press-fitted onto a shaft 23 which extends between thewalls 19 and 20 of the partial mounting bracket 10.

The pallet pin plate 23 provides two laterally extending spaced apartpallet pins 24 which are adapted to have alternate engagement with theteeth of the escapement wheel 17. Also journalled on the shaft 23 is apendulum connecting bar 25. As seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, thisconnecting bar 25 is of elongated formation and provides at its lowerfree end a circular opening 26 which provides a flat surface 27. Intothis opening 26 is adapted to be hooked one end of a pendulum 28. Theflat side 27 of the opening 26 permits a substantial flat facial contactbetween the hooked end 29 of the pendulum 28 and the pendulum bar 25.

Mounted on the shaft 23 and disposed between the pallet pin plate 22 andthe pendulum bar 25 is a friction washer 30. A circular bushing 31 isfrictionally journ'alled on the shaft 23 to one side of the pendulum bar25 so as to mount the pallet pin plate 22, and the friction washer 30into frictional bearing relation with respect to the pendulum bar 25.

By the arrangement above described, the movement of the pendulum bar 25as created by the free swinging of the pendulum weight 32 mounted on theone end of the pendulum 28, will frictionally cause the pallet pin plate22 to oscillate about the shaft 23 causing the pallet pins 24 toalternately engage and strike the teeth of the escapement wheel 17 withan equal force regardless of the vertical positioning of the mountingplatelt). If the clock which embodies the mounting plate It is hung on awall or placed on a mantel so that the clock body is vertically offsetwith respect to a perpendicular line, the weight 31 of the pendulum willcause the pendulum bar 25 to assume a vertical position relative to theshaft 23 and pallet pin plate 22 without affecting the operativeposition of the pallet pins 24 with respect to the teeth of theescapement wheel 17.

Notwithstanding this assumed position of the pendulum bar 25 when theclock is caused to operate, a sufficient frictional contact between thependulum bar 25 and the pallet pin plate 22 is achieved through thepresence of the friction washer 30 to cause the pallet pin plate 22 tooscillate relative to the shaft 23 to properly control rotation of theescapement wheel 17 by the chain of gears 16. The operation of the clockassociated with the pendulum connection as heretofore described, is setforth in the aforementioned pending application Serial No. 297,546 andPatent No. 3,113,639. In this respect, as shown in the drawings of thisapplication, the electric motor 151 is provided with a worm gear 33which has geared connection to a gear wheel 34 whereby when the electricmotor 11 is caused to be periodically energized, the power spring of theclock mechanism is caused to be rewound. It is this power spring thatdrives the clock gears 16 which in turn drive the escapement wheel 17.

By providing a separate connection for the pendulum to the escapementmechanism of the clock, the operation of the clock may be pro-adjustedduring its assembly.

3 This pro-adjustment relates to the placement of the pendulum Weight 31upon one end of the pendulum 28 so that the pendulum 28 will swingthrough a predetermined arcuated path.

By providing a frictional connection between the pendulum bar 25 and thepallet pin plate 22, we have removed the necessity of having the clockplaced in a prescribed vertical plane. By the pendulum weight 32 uponthe pendulum 28 and the pendulum bar 25, these parts will be permittedto adjust their position about the supporting shaft 23 so that thependulum 28 swings through the prescribed arcuate path notwithstandingthe displacement of the clock out of a vertical plane. By

this method of self-adjustment, the pallet pins 24 will strike the gearteeth of the escapement wheel 17 with an equal and even force. Theseadvantages are not found in the present pendulum escapement movementsnow available. 7

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of suchvariations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A battery powered spring clock having a train of clock gears and anescapement mechanism,

(a) said escapement mechanism including a geared escapement wheelrotated by the clock gears,

(b) a pallet pin plate providing spaced apart parallelly extendingpallet pins alternately engaging the gears of said escapement wheel,

(c) a shaft supporting said pallet plate relative to said escapernentwheel and with said pallet pins in alternetting engagement th rewith,

(d) a pendulum for said escapement mechanism,

(e) a supporting means for freely connecting said pendulum tosaid shaft,and

(1) means for frictionally connecting said pallet pin plate to saidsupporting means so said plate together 1 with said pallet pins will becaused to oscillate by the swinging movement of said pendulum.

2. A battery powered spring clock having a train of clock gears and anescapement mechanism,

(a) said escapement mechanism including a geared escapement wheelrotated by the clock gears, (b) a pallet pin plate providing spacedapart parallelly extending pallet pins alternately engaging the gears ofsaid escapement wheel, (c) a shaft for supporting said pallet platerelative to said escapement wheel and with said pallet pins inalternating engagement therewith, (d) a pendulum for said escapementmechanism, (2) a pendulum bar for freely connecting said pendulum tosaid shaft, and (f) means for frictionally connecting said pallet pinplate to said pendulum bar so said plate together with said pallet pinswill be caused'to oscillate by the swinging movement of said pendulum.3. A battery powered spring clock having a train of clock gears and anescapement mechanism,

(a) said escapement mechanism including a geared 'escapement wheelrotated by the clock gears,

(b) a pallet pin plate providing spaced apart parallelly extendingpallet pins alternately engaging the gears of said escapement wheel,

() a shaft for supporting said pallet plate relative to said escapementwheel and with said pallet pins in alternating engagement therewith,

(d) a pendulum for said escapement mechanism,

(e) a supporting means for freely connecting said pendulum to saidshaft, and r (f) a friction washer journalled on said shaft between saidplate and said supporting means for frictionally connecting said palletpin plate to said supporting means so said plate together with saidpallet pins will be caused to oscillate by the swinging movement of saidpendulum. Y

4. A battery powered spring clock having a train of clock gears and anescapernent mechanism,

(a) said escapement mechanism including a geared escapement wheelrotated by the clock gears,

(b) a pallet pin plate providing spaced apart parallelly extendingpallet pins alternately engaging the gears of said escapement wheel,

(0) a shaft for supporting said pallet plate relative to said escapementwheel and with said pallet pins in alternating engagement therewith,

' (d) a pendulum for said escapement mechanism,

(e) a pendulum bar for freely connecting said pendulum to said shaft,and

(f) a friction washer journalled on said shaft between said plate andsaid pendulum bar for frictionally connecting said pallet pin plate tosaid pendulum bar so said plate together with said pallet pins will becaused to oscillate by the swinging movement of said pendulum. V

5. A pendulum clock having a geared driven escape ment mechanismincluding a rotatable escapement wheel,

the movement of which is controlled by alternately engaging pallet pins,

(a) a pallet pin plate for supporting said pallet pins in a spacedparallel relation with respect to each other,

(b) a rotatable shaft for supporting said plate relative to theescapement wheel,

(6) a pendulum supported from said shaft,

(d) means for freely supporting said pendulum from said shaft, and

(e) means for frictionally connecting said supporting means to saidplate to oscillate the same relative to said wheel when said pendulumswings through a vertical arcuated plane,

(f) said supporting means assuming a perpendicular plane by the weightof said pendulum connected thereto independently .of the position ofsaid pallet pin plate with respect to the escapemen-t wheel and thevertical plane of the clock while at the same time effecting properoscillation and contact of said pallet pins with said escapement wheel.

6. A pendulum clock having a geared driven escapement mechanismincluding a rotatable escapement wheel the movement of which iscontrolled by alternately engaging pallet pins, I

(a) a pallet pin plate for supporting said pallet pins in a spacedparallel relation with respect to each other, (b) a rotatable shaft for,supporting said plate relative to the escapement wheel, a (c) a pendulumsupported from said shaft,

(d) a pendulum bar for freely supporting said pendulum from said shaft,and v ('0) means for frictionally connecting said pendulum bar to saidplate to oscillate the same relative to said wheel when said pendulumswings through a vertical arcuated plane,

( said pendulum bar assuming a perpendicular plane by the weight of saidpendulum connected thereto independently of the positionof said palletpin plate with respect to the escapement wheel and the vertical plane ofthe clock while at the same time effecting proper oscillation andcontact'of said pallet pins with said escapement wheel.

7. A pendulum clock having a geared driven escapement mechanismincluding a rotatable escapement wheel the movement of which iscontrolled by alternately engaging pallet pins,

(a) a pallet pin plate for supporting said pallet pins in a spacedparallel relation with respect to each other,

(b) a rotatable shaft for supporting said plate relative to theescapement Wheel,

(c) a pendulum supported from said shaft,

(0') means for freely supporting said pendulum from said shaft, and

(e) a friction washer journalled on said shaft between said plate andsaid supporting means for frictionally connecting said supporting meanstosaid plate to oscillate the same relative to said wheel when saidpendulum swings through a vertical arcuated plane,

(I) said supporting means assuming a perpendicular plane by the weightof said pendulum connected thereto independently of the position of saidpallet pin plate with respect to the escapernent wheel and the verticalplane of the clock while at the same time effecting proper oscillationand contact of said pallet pins with said escapement wheel.

8. A pendulum clock having a geared driven escapement mechanismincluding a rotatable escapement wheel the movement of which iscontrolled by alternately engaging pallet pins,

(a) a pallet pin plate for supporting said pallet pins in a spacedparallel relation with respect to each other,

(12) a rotatable shaft for supporting said plate relative to theescapement wheel,

(c) a pendulum supported from said shaft,

(cl) a pendulum bar for freely supporting said pendulum from said shaft,and

(e) a friction washer journalled on said shaft between said plate andsaid pendulum bar for frictionally connecting said pendulum bar to saidplate to oscillate the same relative to said wheel when said pendulumswings through a vertical arcuated plane,

(1) said pendulum bar assuming a perpendicular plane by the weight ofsaid pendulum connected thereto independently of the position of saidpallet pin plate with respect to the escapement wheel and the verticalplane of the clock while at the same time effecting proper oscillationand contact of said pallet pins with said escapement wheel.

No references cited.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner.

1. A BATTERY POWERED SPRING CLOCK HAVING A TRAIN OF CLOCK GEARS AND ANESCAPEMENT MECHANISM, (A) SAID ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM INCLUDING A GEAREDESCAPEMENT WHEEL ROTATED BY THE CLOCK GEARS, (B) A PALLET PIN PLATEPROVIDING SPACED APART PARALLELY EXTENDING PALLET PINS ALTERNATELYENGAGING THE GEARS OF SAID ESCAPEMENT WHEEL, (C) A SHAFT SUPPORTING SAIDPALLET PLATE RELATIVE TO SAID ESCAPEMENT WHEEL AND WITH SAID PALLET PINSIN ALTERNATING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, (D) A PENDULUM FOR SAID ESCAPEMENTMECHANISM, (E) A SUPPORTING MEANS FOR FREELY CONNECTING SAID PENDULUM TOSAID SHAFT, AND (F) MEANS FOR FRICTIONALLY CONNECTING SAID PALLET PINPLATE TO SAID SUPPORTING MEANS SO SAID PLATE TOGETHER WITH SAID PALLETPINS WILL BE CAUSED TO OSCILLATE BY THE SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAIDPENDULUM.